For Peter Forsberg, it was a punishing first practice. For the Avalanche, it was just punishment.

A day after their second straight home blowout loss, the Avs went through a practice that would have made a U.S. Marine Corps drill sergeant proud. It just happened to be the first full practice for Forsberg in his attempt to return to the NHL since last playing in 2008.

His still-long locks dripping with perspiration, Forsberg seemed mostly pleased with his showing.

“That was a tough practice, but it was great to be out there, great to skate with the guys again,” Forsberg said. “I have to admit, after skating with juniors back home, this was a little quicker. I struggled a little the first couple of drills, but I’m just excited to be out there and see how it goes. Hopefully, the guys can get a win here (tonight) and maybe have a little easier practice on Tuesday.”

Avalanche coach Joe Sacco seemed more impressed than Forsberg with the former superstar’s performance.

“I thought he played well and worked hard, considering the terms of the practice; it was a hard practice,” Sacco said. “It looked like he had energy, and he looked well. He did a good job today.”

Forsberg took part in down-and-back, “suicide” skating drills, skating alongside Avs enforcer David Koci in team-wide pairs. The Avs did a lot of defensive-zone coverage drills, along with others that emphasized battling for the puck, and Forsberg never really skated with any set line in the practice.

Forsberg, 37, does not enjoy talking in too detailed a manner about his often-problematic right foot, so he mostly brushed off questions about how it felt, saying it was “OK today” and has “been worse.”

But he did emphasize how there is little comparison between how he feels now and the last time he attempted to play, with the Avs in 2008. Sources close to Forsberg said his foot is “95 percent,”whereas three years ago it was “about 75 percent.” If all goes as hoped, they said, Forsberg could return to game action after the all-star break early next month.

“I feel much better now than I did before, yes. That’s a true statement,” he said. “Before, my points were OK but my groins were always hurting because I wasn’t in the right (skating) position. And I can’t say I played well then, either. Most of the goals, you could barely see me in the highlights. Maybe in the extended version of the highlights I got in there, but I have to be better than I was back then to be able to come back this time.”

Avalanche center Matt Du- chene was grinning ear to ear after his first career practice with one of his boyhood idols.

“I told him I’m going to be bugging him every day until he gets back. He looked great out there. I don’t think he’s missed much of a beat,” Du- chene said. “Obviously, he hasn’t been in the NHL for a while, but I think for a guy of the caliber like him, I think it’s going to be pretty easy for him to get back into it.”

Forsberg has yet to sign a contract with the Avs, but with a payroll among the five lowest in the NHL, there is plenty of room to afford him. In 2008, he signed a prorated, one-year, $5 million deal with the Avalanche.

While it may be tempting, Forsberg is not getting ahead of himself.

“I’m going to try not to think too much before getting on the ice a few times at least,” he said. “It’s going to take a few practices for me to get into the tempo and everything.”

Sacco said Forsberg was into the tempo better than expected for his first practice.

St. Louis at Colorado

7:30 p.m. tonight, ALT, 950 AM

Spotlight on John Davidson: The former NHL goalie and broadcaster is one of the game’s classiest guys. As president of hockey operations of the Blues since 2006, he oversees a team that is trying to return to playoff status.

Avalanche: Coach Joe Sacco said Peter Budaj will start in goal tonight, but he said Craig Anderson remains the No. 1 goalie. . . . Defenseman Adam Foote was given the day off from practice Sunday. . . . Colorado has lost its last two home games by a combined 11-3.

Blues: St. Louis has lost three of its last four games, including 5-2 at home to Columbus on Saturday. . . . The Blues entered Sunday tied with Anaheim for the most fighting majors (48). . . . Defenseman Barrett Jackman (lower body) is day to day.

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